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She giggled while I slowly twirled us around, making loud kissing noises as I covered her chubby baby cheeks, fat little baby neck, and rounded baby arms with love.
“Aunt Joy,” Memphis said while she pushed at me with her small hands. “Stop.”
“I can’t believe how big you are.” Leaning back a little bit, I examined her sparkly amethyst purple dress that set off her dark curls. “And so pretty.”
“I told you,” my mom said off to the side in a low voice. “Right to Memphis. Totally ignored me, like I’m not even here.”
Judith gave a soft laugh. “That’s as it should be. Every child should be raised with love by their whole family. Makes them healthier, both mentally and physically.”
Memphis started playing with my hair when I heard my sister say, “Hi, Joy, it’s nice to see you. She hasn’t stopped talking about you the whole trip.”
“It’s good to see you too, Brittney.”
To my surprise, she hugged me tight then gave Memphis a kiss on the cheek. “We were both excited to come visit, right, Munchkin?”
“Right, Mommy.”
Seeing that my sister seemed to be in a good mood, I hefted Memphis on top my hip while I gave first my mom, then Judith a one-armed hug. They all chatted together, totally at ease while Ramón joined us, his straight white teeth flashing as he gave us his most dashing smile. He placed his hand on my lower back, then grinned down at Memphis, who was hiding in my hair.
“Who is this beautiful princess?” Ramón said in a voice that was sweeter than honey and softer than velvet.
It was a voice I’ve never heard him use before, and it made my heart and my ovaries flutter. “This is Memphis, my niece. Memphis, this is my boyfriend, Ramón.”
She lifted her face from my hair enough to cautiously look up, then smiled when Ramón crouched down a little so he was more at her height. “It’s nice to meet you. I hope you’re hungry.”
Memphis slowly nodded her head, watching him closely.
Ramón gave my niece a gentle smile that once again made me think about what a good dad he’d be someday. “Do you like macaroni and cheese? The kind with the pasta shaped like seashells?”
Memphis gasped, because this was indeed her favorite food. “I hungry now.”
We all laughed, and my mom snagged Memphis from me as Jose and my clearly happy dad met us inside. Ramón slipped his hand into mine, and gave me a bemused smile while everyone said hello. Brittney laughed at something my mom said, then waited for us to catch up while the parents went ahead of everyone. Giving me a tight smile, Brittney said in a low voice, “Joy, can I talk to you for a second?”
Ramón gave her a warning look, but I forced him to release my hand as I faked a smile. “Sure. Um, Ramón, you’ll be on the back porch, right?”
“Yeah.” He searched my face, his lovely eyes warming slightly before he gave me a brief kiss. “Don’t be long. Everyone will be waiting on you.”
“We won’t.”
As he walked away, Brittney fidgeted with her hair, and I noticed she’d dropped some weight—and it didn’t look good on her.
Scanning the wide hallway, she said, “Is there somewhere a little more private we can go?”
“Follow me. There’s a music room I think you’ll like.”
“Okay.” Her voice was soft and hesitant as she said, “This place sure is something.”
I led us into a room a couple of doors down one of the hallways, a place where Judith kept her piano and violin collection. My sister had played the piano in high school, and I wondered if that was something she’d continued. We’d had to sell our crappy old piano to make ends meet one year when my dad had gotten pneumonia, and I remember Brittney had been devastated.
When we entered the large room with its pale green walls and elegant green and gold Persian carpets, Brittney let out a soft gasp.
“Wow. Okay, this is just insane. Are these…” she turned around the room with wide eyes until she spotted the carved antique mahogany piano near the big bay window. “Oh, that’s lovely.”
I didn’t bother turning the room lights on, instead leaving most of the place in darkness with soft amber lights illuminating various pieces of art and the piano.
She hesitated before touching it, a weary look coming over her face that I wasn’t used to seeing. “Does anyone play it?”
“I think Judith does.”
Right away, Brittney took a step back. “Never mind.”
Laughing, I joined her at the piano and gently ran my fingers up and down the keys. “It’s okay. I mean, you know how to play and everything, right? I’m sure she’d love to hear some music.”
A look of great longing took over my sister’s face, and tears filled her green eyes, so similar to mine. “Maybe later. I don’t want to keep Memphis waiting.”
